8D · THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2006 · USA TODAY
USA TODAY · THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2006 · 9D
1 Eunice Buhler
Lake Forest (Ill.) High Age: 16 GPA: 3.85 Accomplishments: Founded Cultures for Youth (www.culturesforyouth.org), a non-profit organization with chapters in Lake Forest and Jinja, Uganda, to advance cultural acceptance internationally, including cultural fairs, dance performances and a button giveaway cultural exchange at the Athens Olympics; Nestle Very Best in Youth award winner and foundation vice president; National Youth Council member to Youth Service America; International Youth Volunteerism Summit delegate; Always Ready Kids mentor; graduated from a seven-year after-school Greek language and culture school; apprenticed with Byzantine art iconographers. Parents: Robert Buhler, Violetta Kapsalis Buhler College: Northwestern
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Photo by John Zich, USA TODAY
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2 Sarah Rapoport
Horace Mann School, Riverdale, N.Y. Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Her research on embryonic symmetry-breaking mechanisms showing how the body learns left from right won the American Academy of Neurology’s Neuroscience Creativity Prize and was named Intel Science Talent Search finalist; adapted four prize-winning National History Day essays, including a national first prize essay, into a book, History’s Real-Life Cinderellas: Four Remarkable Stories of Women Who Changed the World, sold at the Museum of the City of New York; invented an anti-forging signature verification pen; captain, varsity fencing team; band co-president and first chair oboist; science club president; Knowledge Master team captain; started school club to provide volunteers to local hospital. Parents: Samuel, Sandra Rapoport College: Brown
USA TODAY’s 2006
All-USA High School Academic Team
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Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Bios compiled by Tracey Wong Briggs, USA TODAY
Here they are: the 20 members of USA TODAY’s 20th annual All-USA High School Academic First Team. From a Southern California playwright who has had plays professionally produced to a Georgia teen who used a bikini, diaper gel and cashews to make a device to help train women to do breast exams, honorees take their intellectual skills beyond the classroom.
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3 Justin Solomon
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Alexandria, Va. Age: 18 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: He created novel algorithms for a 3-D face recognition system from video, winning Intel International Science & Engineering Fair first place grand award and Department of Homeland Security fellowship; Intel Science Talent Search finalist; Siemens Westinghouse semifinalist; USA Invitational Computing Olympiad; USA Physics Olympiad semifinalist; freshman and senior captain, computer team; Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra cellist and music mentor; robotics team programmer; Eagle Scout. Parents: Rod Solomon, Nancy Griesemer College: Stanford
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Photo by Tim Dillon, USA TODAY
4 Stephanie Brinton
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East High, Salt Lake City Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: A Los Angeles Liszt International Piano Competition winner who has performed on the Young Concert Artists’ Series in Italy, she created Musical Portraits of Famous Composers, a 50-minute program she presents to elementary schools; varsity basketball captain also lettered in cross country and track; took 10-day service trip to Ecuador to help build a school; National Honor Society chapter president; Key Club treasurer; Girls State; Utah’s Junior Miss. Parents: Greg, Sally Brinton College: Harvard
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Photo by Kent C. Horner for USA TODAY
5 Anish Mehta
Indian Hill High, Cincinnati Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: He spent two summers volunteering with SOTENI International in Kenya, building a census database on rural children and developing programs for AIDS orphans; founded a SOTENI Club at his school to raise awareness; student body vice president; marching band drum captain; co-founded orchestral group to perform at nursing homes; Mock Trial Team and best attorney award; Latin Club co-president; four gold medals and one perfect score on National Latin Exam. Parents: Jayesh, Jyoti Mehta College: University of Pennsylvania Photo by David N. Kohl for USA TODAY
6 Brett Harrison
12 First Team members were selected from more than 1,700 nominees nationwide. They each receive a trophy and $2,500 cash. Grade-point averages are unweighted and calculated on a 4.0 or 100-point scale. Students are unranked; numbers are for photo identification only.
13 Cover story, 1D Second and Third Teams and honorable mention, 10D
Half Hollow Hills High West, Dix Hills, N.Y. Age: 18 GPA: 98.98 Accomplishments: Proved Seymour’s Conjecture, a longstanding math hypothesis, winning Intel International Science & Engineering Fair second place grand award; original proof in pure mathematics being published in American Mathematical Monthly and named Siemens Westinghouse and Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist, second place at the National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium; Suffolk All-County Symphonic Band first chair alto sax; founded and teaches number theory course; directs Brainstormers Academic Quizbowl tournament; Math Olympiad team captain; varsity tennis; student director, Hurricane Katrina benefit, which raised about $5,000. Parents: Aaron, Rhonda Harrison College: Harvard Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
7 Aliza Malz
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Hunter College High, New York Age: 18 GPA: 96 Accomplishments: A three-time qualifier to the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, she researched using gravitational lensing to identify dark matter and won a third place grand award; third prize, Nobel Essay contest; editor in chief, school science fiction/fantasy literary magazine; editor in chief, school math journal; Mu Alpha Theta math honor society vice president; coordinator of External Mathematics Programs; co-directed I-HELP Liberia Project; Engineering Club president; science club physics adviser designed “Physics Without Math” curriculum; peer tutor. Parents: Abraham Malz, Ruth Ellen Stark College: Caltech
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8 Shiv Gaglani
West Shore Junior/Senior High, Melbourne, Fla. Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Working with a Clemson professor aiming to modify ink-jet printers for use in tissue engineering, he advanced a branching method that may one day be used to “print” a rudimentary blood vessel, earning a second place Grand Award at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair; presented stem cell research at the American Academy of Neurology conference and was named Siemens Westinghouse team regional finalist; spinal cord research with the Miami Project; student government president; debate team captain; academic team captain; 1,600 SAT/36 ACT; Presidential Scholar; founded chess clubs in district elementary schools; Florida Today teen reporter. Parents: Mukesh, Vanita Gaglani College: Harvard
15 John Zhou
Detroit Country Day School Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Research on conductormagnetic polymers named Intel Science Talent Search finalist; Siemens Westinghouse semifinalist; research on translesion synthesis proteins won $25,000 Davidson fellowship; USA Physics, Biology and Math Olympiad semifinalist; All-State Honor Band and honor soloist, clarinet; student council treasurer; Science Olympiad Club president; principal clarinetist, Metropolitan Youth Symphony; 2,400 SAT; Presidential Scholar; school newspaper columnist; varsity track team; founded school’s AIDS Walk team, which raised $7,200; developed English and Chinese websites for organization helping AIDS orphans in China. Parents: Suwei, Xiaofeng Zhou College: Harvard Photo by Rob Widdis, Detroit Free Press, for USA TODAY
Photo by Preston C. Mack for USA TODAY
9 Ilana Yurkiewicz
Lawrence High, Cedarhurst, N.Y. Age: 17 GPA: 99.77 Accomplishments: She researched the role of DNA methylation in lung tumor growth and development, named Intel Science Talent Search and Siemens Westinghouse semifinalist; math team co-captain; school newspaper co-editor in chief; cellist and co-orchestra manager, concert orchestra and honors strings ensemble; Lawrence Philharmonic; literary magazine co-literary editor; gymnastics team; local newspaper high school columnist; Key Club. Parents: Jack, Shelley Yurkiewicz College: Yale Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
10 Daniel Cayce
Bearden (Ark.) High Age: 18 GPA: 3.977 Accomplishments: Inspired by his grandmother, who founded a charity to help the rural poor in Arkansas, he started projects to recycle old furniture, appliances, clothes and second harvest food, a cancer caps drive, a baby food drive and a “No Child Left Behind in Nutrition” program; had inspirational award named for him at the Clinton School of Public Service; Arkansas Recycler of the Year; Hall of Fame for Caring Americans; Eagle Scout; Boys State; Beta Club president; class officer; varsity baseball and football; Future Business Leaders of America speech award. Mother: Joannie Cayce College: Ouachita Baptist University Photo by Wesley Hitt for USA TODAY
11 Albert Shieh
Chaparral High, Scottsdale, Ariz. Age: 16 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Working with a partner, he developed algorithms and packaged them in software to more accurately analyze genetic data, which won the $100,000 top team prize at the Siemens Westinghouse Competition and is a highly accessed publication in BMC Genomics; three-time state policy debate champion; All-America Cup K-9 Chess Champion; Interact chapter webmaster; county Youth Volunteer Corps Council and Mayor’s Youth Council; volunteered close to 300 hours at Scottsdale Public Library. Parents: Fei-Ying, Chan-Long Shieh College: Harvard Photo by Jason Millstein for USA TODAY
12 Laura Huppert
Piedmont (Calif.) High Age: 18 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: A seven-year Reading Buddy and longtime science fair competitor who won a trip to China at the International Science & Engineering Fair for research on antibiotics and soil bacteria, she created and wrote grants to fund an eight-week summer science program for more than 50 low-income elementary school children; team captain of 2005 national champion Oakland Strokes crew team, which won Crew Henley Women’s Regatta in England; student body president; Key Club president. Parents: Chris, Susan Huppert College: Harvard Photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
13 Xin (Cindy) Wang
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy, Aurora, Ill. Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Presented research on genetic mutations that cause color blindness in mice at the American Academy of Neurology convention; Intel Science Talent Search finalist; delegate to Thailand International Science Fair; also researched pathogenic fungus that harms sugar beets, and metabolites of cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug; co-captain, Science Olympiad Team; president, Mu Alpha Theta math honor society; section editor, IMSA math/ science magazine; writer, copy editor, IMSA newspaper; 36 ACT; Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra; violinist, All-State Honors Orchestra. Parents: Shiying Wang; Bin Liu College: Harvard Photo by John Zich, USA TODAY
14 William Alden
Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif. Age: 17 GPA: 3.93 Accomplishments: He has written four one-act plays, two of which won the California Young Playwrights contest and were professionally produced at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and a third was produced at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; first prize, Princeton University Ten-Minute Play contest; Glendale Piano Competition grand prize; World Piano Pedagogy Conference master class performer; principal pianist and percussion section leader, high school symphony orchestra; founder and editor, school literary magazine; varsity fencer and qualifier for national age-group competitions; four national Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Awards. Parents: Robert Alden, Joan Freeman Alden College: Yale
16 Daniel Litt
Orange High, Pepper Pike, Ohio Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Developed full combinatorial proof of Chan-Robbins-Yuen Theorem, named Intel Science Talent Search and Siemens Westinghouse semifinalist; 1,600 SAT/36 ACT; first place team, American High School Internet Mathematics Competition; gold medal, USA Mathematical Talent Search; USA Physics Olympiad semifinalist; debate team and National Forensic League National Tournament qualifier; Mock Trial team president and state qualifier; Model United Nations vice-president; school newspaper writer, copy editor; National Honor Society; pit orchestra violinist for high school musicals. Parents: Jonathan, Maria Litt College: Harvard Photo by Phil Long for USA TODAY
17 Michael Viscardi
Josan Academy homeschool, San Diego Age: 17 University of California-San Diego GPA: 4.0 (52 credits) Accomplishments: Home-schooled since the fifth grade, he started taking college math courses at 13 and proved a theorem with the first explicit formula solving the 19th-century Dirichlet problem, winning the $100,000 individual grand prize in the Siemens Westinghouse Competition and getting published in a peer-reviewed math journal; Intel Science Talent Search finalist; concertmaster and piano soloist, San Diego Youth Symphony; violin soloist, San Diego Chamber Orchestra; founding member, San Diego Math Circle; 1,600 SAT; four-time USA Math Olympiad qualifier and 2004 summer program participant. Parents: Anthony, Eunjee Viscardi College: Harvard/New England Conservatory Photo by Robert Alan Benson for USA TODAY
18 Jonathan Cross
James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, Fairfax, Va. Age: 18 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: After his research showed air pollution affects hydrogen fuel cell performance, he invented a patent-pending modular air contaminant control system to reduce fuel cell degradation, winning several Intel International Science & Engineering Fair awards, including a trip to Japan to meet the royal family; founded school fencing team; Eagle Scout; Student Advisory Committee to the State Board of Education as a freshman; symphonic orchestra president and first chair viola; National Honor Society chapter president; Boys State; mentor and volunteer with several programs and clubs working with special-needs children. Parents: James, Karen Cross College: Duke Photo by Tim Dillon, USA TODAY
19 Alexander Gribov
Mayfield High, Mayfield Village, Ohio Age: 18 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Immigrating to the USA at age 4 with his parents, who fled religious oppression in the Soviet Union, he is president of People Recognizing International Diversity and Ethnicities and led the founding of an annual series of tolerance seminars engaging younger students on race, sexuality and skin color as a sophomore; Model United Nations awards; National Honor Society chapter vice president led Relay for Life team raising $5,000; 1,600 SAT; Presidential Scholar; varsity basketball; volunteers to help Russian senior citizens improve their English and study for citizenship exam; founded Walk for Warmth fundraiser, raising $1,400 to help low-income families with winter heating costs. Parents: Michael, Irene Gribov College: University of Michigan Photo by Stephen Cutri for USA TODAY
20 Lindsay Haines
Wheeler High, Marietta, Ga. Age: 17 GPA: 4.0 Accomplishments: Motivated by the breast cancer death of friend’s mother, she did cancer research named Siemens Westinghouse regional finalist and Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist; created a patent-pending wearable breast exam training apparatus using diaper gel, cashews and a bikini; won New South Young Playwrights Contest, with play produced at the Horizon Theater in Atlanta; president, varsity swim team; president and co-founder, debate team; lead roles in four theatre performances; National Honor Society chapter president; violinist, pianist, vocalist. Parents: David, Hiemi Haines College: Yale Photo by Michael Schwarz, USA TODAY
Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Photo by Todd Plitt, USA TODAY
The judges 20 14
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For more information about the All-USA Academic and Teacher Teams, visit allstars.usatoday.com.
uAshley Bass, 1995 All-USA High School Academic First Team. uArt Buikema, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. uMichael Clark, National Education Association. uDavid Evans, Harvard College. uRichard Flanary, National Association of Secondary School Principals. uJay Goldman, American Association of School Administrators.
uMeg Gruber, National Education Association. uShanda Ivory, National Association for College Admission Counseling. uBarry Stark, National Association of Secondary School Principals. uRobert Thornton, Housatonic Community College. uMartin Wilder, University of Mary Washington. uRichard Wong, American School Counselor Association.